Assessment of sensation in the stomatognathic function

Abstract

Considering the relationship between sensory and motor elements in the jaw and oral cavity function, it has been observed that jaw movement is controlled by the sensation of occlusal contact of the teeth and that the periodontal ligament sensation is altered by the clenching of the upper and lower teeth. Thus, not only are sensation and movement closely related, but also sensation is one of the functions of the jaw and oral cavity. Hence, it is essential to elucidate the function of sensation in the study of jaw and oral cavity function. The main senses of the jaw and oral cavity include taste, classified as a special sense; cutaneous sensations such as touch, pain, warmth, and cold; deep sensations linked to muscular sensation; and organ sensations related to physiological states, notably thirst. Human subjects are exposed to various types of stimuli（taste, mechanical, temperature, etc.）, and the sensation and its corresponding intensity are subjected to investigation. There are methods to investigate neural activity after stimulation using electroencephalography, cerebral blood flow, functional MRI, and magnetoencephalography. In animal studies, there are also methods to investigate the behavior of animals after various types of stimulation and methods to analyze sensory nerve activity electrophysiologically and biochemically. Each of these research modalities has its advantages and disadvantages, necessitating a comprehensive understanding.